Strong Agree: Jhoan Duran says being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies is a ‘dream come true’
The Phillies finally have a real closer after acquiring Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins ahead of Thursday’s MLB Trade Deadline.
In case you weren’t aware, Jhoan Duran isn’t just any closer.
He’s The Durantula.
Jhoan Duran arrived in Philly this week after Dave Dombrowski swung the biggest deal of the deadline, and the 27-year-old flamethrower is already talking about winning a World Series like it’s his birthright.
That’s the kind of energy this city eats up. Throw in a fastball that sits at 100.2 mph and a stadium entrance that includes literal flames and hidden tarantulas on the scoreboard, and we might have a new fan favorite before he even throws a pitch.
Strong Agree: Jhoan Duran says being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies is a ‘dream come true’
“This is my dream come true,” Duran said Friday. “I’m going to give 110%. I know I have a chance to win a World Series. I want it.”
Duran is the best back-end bullpen arm this team has had since prime Papelbon and honestly, he might be even better than that. He’s got a 2.01 ERA, 16 saves, and 53 strikeouts in just over 49 innings this season.
The Phillies Bullpen Isn’t a Problem Anymore
It feels wild to say this out loud, but the Phillies bullpen is… fixed?
Here’s your September bullpen:
- Jhoan Duran (closer)
- Matt Strahm
- Orion Kerkering
- David Robertson
- Jesús Luzardo
- Taijuan Walker
- Tanner Banks
- José Alvarado (for the regular season, maybe longer)
This is a massive upgrade. Period. The 7th-8th-9th inning setup now looks like an actual playoff contender instead of a science experiment gone wrong.
You’ve also got Andrew Painter waiting in the wings and when he gets called up, he’ll be another weapon out of the bullpen for October. Dombrowski didn’t mortgage the future, and he still built a staff that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the National League.
The rotation for the postseason is shaping up too.
Wheeler, Sánchez, Nola, Ranger. Elite.
Luzardo heads to the bullpen, where he can unleash hell in short bursts. If Nola falters, you’ve still got Luzardo, Painter or Walker in reserve.
“This Is My House Now”
One of the best parts of Jhoan Duran’s intro was the jersey number situation. Rob Thomson has worn #59 since joining the Phillies. It was never a big deal to him. Duran, on the other hand, has #59 painted at the bottom of his pool in the Dominican Republic.
When Thomson offered it up, Duran was emotional. His wife almost cried. It’s a small thing, but moments like that can turn a new player into a clubhouse glue guy.
“If the number means something to you, it’s yours,” Thomson told him.
Red October is Coming…
This is the best bullpen this team has had in years. The rotation is World Series-caliber. The defense is playoff-ready but none of it matters if the bats don’t show up.
The Phillies have the talent to win a World Series. Everyone knows that. But this isn’t about names on paper. This is about getting hot at the right time. The Phils need to stop sleepwalking through August, get their swagger back, and carry that momentum into October.
This entrance will definitely help
The front office has done its job. Duran is here. Bader is here. The bullpen is locked in.
Now it’s up to the lineup. No more three-man offense. No more wasting Ranger Suarez gems. No more disappearing acts from the bottom half of the order. The Durantula is ready to shut it down. Let’s just hope the rest of the team remembers to show up.
Join The Chase
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